Not many people know this, but between the 16th and the early 19th centuries there was a flourishing sea-trade in horsehair between Western Europe and Turkey. The product was used to stuff sofas, which are even today sometimes known as ottomans, after the Turkish empire.
These ships sailed down the English Channel, along the west side of France, then crossed the notorious Bay of Biscay. Finally they rounded Spain and slipped through the Straits of Gibraltar.
As they travelled along the north African coast, history tell of 'Barbary Pirates', who would often attempt to intercept trading ships for the wealth they contained.These pirates were known as Corsairs.
When a pirate ship captured a merchantman bearing sofa-stuffing, the crew would describe their booty as 'Horsehairs for Corsairs'.
From the Horse's Mouth
Not many people know this, but between the 16th and the early 19th centuries there was a flourishing sea-trade in horsehair between Western Europe and Turkey. The product was used to stuff sofas, which are even today sometimes known as ottomans, after the Turkish empire.
These ships sailed down the English Channel, along the west side of France, then crossed the notorious Bay of Biscay. Finally they rounded Spain and slipped through the Straits of Gibraltar.
As they travelled along the north African coast, history tell of 'Barbary Pirates', who would often attempt to intercept trading ships for the wealth they contained.These pirates were known as Corsairs.
When a pirate ship captured a merchantman bearing sofa-stuffing, the crew would describe their booty as 'Horsehairs for Corsairs'.